Besides forensic DNA, another field that interests me is pharmacogenetics, which is the study of how an individual's genetic make-up affects his/her drug metabolism and response. This field began in the 1950's and can be useful for personalized medicine for diseases and addiction treatment, as well as death investigations to name a few. Since cancers and diseases can arise from many factors besides genetic ones, the field involves the study of how the environment plays a role with genetics to cause human diseases using biomarkers to determine more effective drug treatment than traditionally done by trial and error. With whole genome sequencing becoming more commonly used, it seems like the world of tomorrow will be like the movie GATTACA. If you haven't seen it, it makes for a pretty good watch.
One article I found interesting is titled, "Pharmacogenetics of alcohol, nicotine and drug addiction treatments" by Jessica E Sturgess et al (2011). Alcohol and nicotine dependence as well as cocaine and heroin addition, although less common, result in negative health impacts and premature deaths causing a major socioeconomic issue. The article goes in depth to provide a review of pharmacogenetic studies, treatments, and genes associated with addiction. For example, naltrexone is a common treatment for alcohol dependence and a few studies found that participants taking this and had the G allele on the OPRM1 gene had reduced rates of relapse compared to those with the genotype AA.
Another interesting read is titled, "Personalizing medicine with clinical pharmacogenetics" by Stuart A Scott (2011). In 1977, a hepatic cytochrome P450 oxidase polymorphism (CYP2D6 gene) was discovered. This enzyme is in involved in the metabolism of approximately 25% of commonly used drugs. Some individuals can inherit this "poor metabolism trait." Genotypes have been associated with phenotypes such as ultrarapid, extensive, intermediate, and poor. You can start to see how pharmacogenetic information might play a role for personalized medicine and addiction treatment.
References:
1) Jessica E Sturgess et al. Pharmacogenetics of alcohol, nicotine and drug addiction treatments. Addicition Biology. 2011 16:357-376.
2) Stuart A Scott. Personalizing medicine with clinical pharmacogenetics. Genet Med. 2011 Dec; 13 (12):987-995.
This is not a topic I am familiar with but I can see definite advantages to this research. Drug abuse has been a prevalent problem in many countries for a long time. The federal government has often responded with incarceration rather than treatment, though recently more balanced approaches have been used to help addicts rather than punish them. Understanding addiction and drug interactions better could lead to much more effective treatments. Since it can help so many people I hope to see much more research in this area.
ReplyDeleteThis is extremely interesting. With many everyday situations we say 'everyone is different', however most medical treatments are broad plans designed as just the opposite. It would make sense that more personalized medicine and addiction treatments would be advantageous. Here's to hoping this research leads to better medical days!
ReplyDeleteAs a former smoker I can attest at how hard it is to quit. Having more research as to the causes of not only nicotine but other substance addiction and better ways to treat it would be very beneficial to many people across the world.
ReplyDeleteI'll echo Madeline, a little. It seems that we really vary in how easily we overcome certain addictions. I don't think in general that I'm a person with low willpower-- this has literally been field tested in remote tropical locations where I've been sick and injured and still managed to gut out a field season. Nicotine is the bane of my existence. I've quit nicotine use approximately 1 bazillion times, and it beats me every time I have. One time I quit for for nine-months, and suffered temptation every day for the entire period. I can't help but believe that there is really something intrinsically wrong and unusual with my response to that particular drug.
ReplyDeleteI'm considering Chantix, which blocks the ability of nicotine to bind to the target receptor. This also should result in sort of a dopamine crash, which sort of terrifies me. Probably for your sakes, I'll wait until the semester is over.
Good on you, Madeline, for kicking it.